The Betts family in the UK, August 2018 (Image: Supplied)

From next month, fully vaccinated Australians will be able to leave and reenter Australia as they please as the country sheds its hermit kingdom status. It’s fantastic news for those looking to travel, take a holiday or visit family. But the freedoms only apply to citizens and permanent residents. 

Those on temporary visas won’t be able to reenter the country without an exemption, which has thus far proven difficult to score. Many are calling for the government to prioritise exemptions and visas for those wanting to visit family on compassionate grounds.

‘Why would we stay?’

Faye Betts, a UK citizen who moved to Australia for work in December 2019 with her family says she feels like a second-class citizen. 

“There’s all this rhetoric about making progress but there’s no clear plan, and the plans we do have are leaving certain groups behind,” Betts told Crikey. “Temporary visa holders have no rights.” 

Faye Betts (far left) with her family in 2019 (Image: Supplied)

2020 was especially tough for her family. Her then-15-year-old daughter Ellie stayed behind in the UK to finish off her school year. Instead of flying to her family at Christmas, Ellie was separated from her parents and two sisters for 15 months, living with her grandmother. Multiple flights booked to get Ellie here were cancelled, and her two sisters missed their older sibling.

While Ellie was finally reunited with her family in February of this year a new dilemma has arisen: Ellie’s grandmother lives alone and wants to see her family currently in Australia. 

“I wish families were given priority over general tourists so that we could leave or bring family over to visit on compassionate grounds,” Betts said. 

Betts said had her family known how long the borders were going to be shut and how difficult it would be to see family, they would have moved back to the UK. 

“I understand the reasons for the restrictions, but I wish temporary visa holders were given some consideration,” she said. 

“Australia is losing these skilled migrants who can’t see their families and think, ‘why would I stay here?’”. 

In June this year, there were 509,600 overseas migrant arrivals — 40,800 fewer than in June 2019. There were 103,500 estimated arrivals to Australia, a 93.4% decrease when compared to pre-COVID levels in June 2019. 

Where’s the pathway out? 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison emphasised on Friday that it was “time to give Australians their lives back” as the country inches close to 80% double vaccination rates for the over-16 population. 

But his announcement lacked key details. Home quarantine is being piloted in several states, and details about which countries Australians can visit are vague. 

It’s not just temporary residents doing it tough due to the lack of clarity around border reopening and exemptions — citizens and permanent residents are having problems too. Sri, an Indian national with permanent residency who asked for her surname to be withheld, gave birth to her baby daughter in July last year. Her parents weren’t able to get an exemption to come see their new grandchild and help Sri, who doesn’t have family aside from her husband in Australia.

Sri with her daughter and husband in Melbourne (Image: Supplied)

Her daughter was born via C-section and was diagnosed with hip dysplasia which may require surgery. Sri developed post-natal depression and struggled with her physical recovery. 

“I had a very rough start with breastfeeding and I wish I had my mum’s experience and guidance,” Sri told Crikey. Her exemption requests to have her parents visit we denied. 

Last week, Sri made the decision to fly to India but is now torn about returning. 

“The moment I handed bubba to my parents I felt so much purpose and satisfaction,” she said. “It’s been a week since I am here now and I have not had a single teardrop in my eyes, and feel like the biggest mystery and question has been solved.”

She’d like to come home to her husband next month to make sure the family does not miss its second Christmas together, but is worried about finding a flight and doesn’t want to deprive her daughter of her grandparents.

“It feels like I can’t have it all,” she said. “I appreciate and understand the way the government has kept us safe during the pandemic [but] I would really appreciate some free movement … to help people like us who have made Australia their home but have origins and family overseas.”

Sri reunited with her parents in India (Image: Supplied)

A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs told Crikey temporary visa holders don’t need an exemption to leave Australia, but foreign nationals, including temporary visa holders, continue to require a travel exemption to enter Australia, unless they are in an exempt category.

“Further information on travel and entry requirements for foreign nationals, including temporary visa holders, will be available as we progress through the four phases of the national plan to transition Australia’s national COVID-19 response,” the spokesperson said.